Psalms of Prayer

Sing Psalms (2003) Free Church of Scotland Psalm Book

psalms

Common Meter

Tune: Rockingham - Edward Miller	1790
From 1912 Psalter of the United Presbyterian Church

Psalm 145 v15-21 (Tune: Rockingham / Communion)

Psalm 20 sung acapella from The Scottish Metrical Psalter of 1650. (Meter: CM)

1  Jehovah hear thee in the day
         when trouble he doth send:
      And let the name of Jacob's God
         thee from all ill defend.

   2  O let him help send from above,
         out of his sanctuary:
      From Zion, his own holy hill,
         let him give strength to thee.

   3  Let him remember all thy gifts,
         accept thy sacrifice:
   4  Grant thee thine heart's wish, and fulfill
         thy thoughts and counsel wise.

   5  In thy salvation we will joy;
         in our God's name we will
      Display our banners: and the Lord
         thy prayers all fulfill.

Psalm 20 (Tune: Orton)

Support the psalms - www.patreon.com/join/psalms
Sung from Sing Psalms (2003) 
by permission Free Church of Scotland

Psalm 142 (Tune: Myfanwy)

Support the psalms - https://www.patreon.com/join/psalms
Copyright: Sing Psalms 2003 (Produced by the Free Church of Scotland). 1998 Glasgow Psalm Singing Recital. Meter: 86.886

1 Blessed is the one who turns away
from where the wicked walk,
Who does not stand in sinners’ paths
or sit with those who mock.

2 Instead he finds God’s holy law
his joy and great delight;
He makes the precepts of the LORD
his study day and night.

3 He prospers ever like a tree
that’s planted by a stream,
And in due season yields its fruit;
its leaves are always green.

4 Not so the wicked! They are like
the chaff that’s blown away.
5 They will not stand when judgment comes
or with the righteous stay.

6 It is the LORD who sees and knows
the way the righteous go,
But those who live an evil life
the LORD will overthrow.

Psalm 1 a (Tune: Creator)

Support the psalms: www.patreon.com/psalms

	1	If God the LORD had not been on our side—
	2	Let Isr’el say—had not the LORD been near
	3	When foes attacked us, filling us with fear,
		And when their wrath against us reached its height,
		Alive we had been swallowed in their spite.

	4	We would have been enveloped by the flood;
		Over our heads the torrent would have gone;
	5	The waters would have carried us along.
	6	But praise the LORD, for he has set us free
		And has not left us to their cruelty.

	7	We have escaped—just as a captured bird 
		Out of the fowler’s net has been set free;
		The snare is cut, we are at liberty.
	8	Our help is in the name of God the LORD
		Who made the earth and heavens by his word.

Sung acapella from: Sing Psalms 2003 (Produced by the Free Church of Scotland). 	PSALM 124		10 10 10 10 10

Psalm 124 (Tune: Old 124th)

Support the psalms - www.patreon.com/join/psalms

Copyright: Sing Psalms 2003. Psalm 2 sung acapella at a Free Church Glasgow Psalmody Recital, used with permission. (Meter: LM)

1 Why do the heathen nations rage?
Why do the peoples plot in vain?
2 Earth’s kings combine in enmity;
Her rulers join against God’s reign.

They take their stand against the LORD
And challenge his anointed one:
3 “Let us break off their chains from us;
With their restraints let us be done.”

4 The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
The Lord on high derides them all.
5 Then he rebukes them in his wrath;
His rage and terror on them fall.

6 The LORD has made it known to them:
“My chosen king I have installed
On Zion, my own holy hill.
He is the one whom I have called.”

Psalm 2 v1-6 (Tune: Rimington)

Give $2 and help cover the hosting costs :) www.patreon.com/psalms
Psalm 21 sung acapella from The Scottish Metrical Psalter of 1650. (Meter: CM)
  1  The king in thy great strength, O Lord,
         shall very joyful be:
      In thy salvation rejoice
         how veh'mently shall he!

   2  Thou hast bestowed upon him
         all that his heart would have;
      And thou from him didst not withhold
         whate'er his lips did crave.

   3  For thou with blessings him prevent'st
         of goodness manifold;
      And thou hast set upon his head
         a crown of purest gold.

   4  When he desired life of thee,
         thou life to him didst give;
      Ev'n such a length of days, that he
         for evermore should live.

5  In that salvation wrought by thee
         his glory is made great;
      Honor and comely majesty
         thou hast upon him set.

Psalm 21 (Tune: Arnold)

From the Scottish psalter of 1650
Recording used by permission of the free Church of Scotland Psalmody committee

1  My heart is fixed, Lord; I will sing,
       and with my glory praise.
 2  Awake up psaltery and harp;
       myself I'll early raise.

 3  I'll praise thee 'mong the people, Lord;
       'mong nations sing will I:
 4  For above heav'n thy mercy's great,
       thy truth doth reach the sky.

 5  Be thou above the heavens, Lord,
       exalted gloriously;
    Thy glory all the earth above
       be lifted up on high.

 6  That those who thy beloved are
       deliver-ed may be,
    O do thou save with thy right hand,
       and answer give to me.


Psalm 108 (Tune: Warrick)

Support the psalms - https://www.patreon.com/join/psalms
Psalm 1b sung a capella from Sing Psalm (2003)(Produced by the Free Church of Scotland). Meter: 88.88.88

1 How blessed the one who does not walk
Where wicked men would guide his feet,
Who does not stand in sinners’ paths
Or sit upon the scorners’ seat.
2 The law of God is his delight,
His meditation day and night.

3 He prospers like a tree, which has
Been planted by a flowing stream,
And in its season yields its fruit;
Its leaves are always fresh and green.
In every act and every word
He knows the blessing of the LORD.

4 Not so the wicked: they are like
The chaff the wind will blow away.
5 They will not in the judgment stand,
Nor sinners with the righteous stay.
6 God knows the way the righteous go;
The wicked’s way he’ll overthrow.

Psalm 1b (Tune: St Petersburg)

Support the psalms - www.patreon.com/join/psalms

Text: Psalm 70 from 'Psalms for Singing – A 21st Century Edition (2004)'
© The Reformed Presbyterian church of Ireland. 
Meter: SM


	2	May all who seek my harm
		in shame now turned back be.
		May they be turned back in disgrace
		who say, “Ha! Ha!” to me.

	3	Let all who seek you joy,
		be glad in you above.
		Keep saying, “God is great,” all those
		who your salvation love.

	4	But I am poor, in need;
		O God, come soon to me.
		O LORD, do not delay; my help
		and my deliv’rer be.

Psalm 70 (Tune: Zurich)

Support the psalms - www.patreon.com/join/psalms

57 Thou my sure portion art alone,
which I did choose, O Lord:
I have resolved, and said, that I
would keep thy holy word.

58 With my whole heart I did entreat
thy face and favor free:
According to thy gracious word
be merciful to me.

59 I thought upon my former ways,
and did my life well try;
And to thy testimonies pure
my feet then turned I.

60 I did not stay, nor linger long,
as those that slothful are;
But hastily thy laws to keep
myself I did prepare.

61 Bands of ill men me robbed; yet I
thy precepts did not slight.
62 I’ll rise at midnight thee to praise,
ev’n for thy judgments right.

63 I am companion to all those
who fear, and thee obey.
64 O Lord, thy mercy fills the earth:
teach me thy laws, I pray.

Recorded during worship at Glasgow RP Church (10.1.2016)

Psalm 119 Part 8 (Tune: St Columba)

 Text from the Scottish Metrical Psalter of 1650. (recording reproduced with permission)

3  Say unto God, How terrible
         in all thy works art thou!
      Through thy great pow'r thy foes to thee
         shall be constrained to bow.

   4  All on the earth shall worship thee,
         they shall thy praise proclaim
      In songs: they shall sing cheerfully
         unto thy holy name.

   5  Come, and the works that God hath wrought
         with admiration see:
      In's working to the sons of men
         most terrible is he.

Psalm 66 v3-5 (Tune: Bishopthorpe)

Support the psalms: www.patreon.com/psalms
Copyright: Sing Psalms 2003 (Produced by the Free Church of Scotland) Meter: 87.87.77

	1	O my God, have mercy on me
			in your steadfast love, I pray;
		In your infinite compassion
			my transgressions wipe away.
	2	Cleanse me from iniquity;
			wash my sin away from me.

	3	For I know my own transgressions;
			I can see my sinful plight.
	4	You, you only, I’ve offended,
			and done evil in your sight;
		So your words are verified,
			and your verdict justified.

	5	From my birth I have been sinful—
			such the nature I received—
		Sinful from my first beginning
			in my mother’s womb conceived.
	6	Truth you look for in my heart;
			wisdom to me you impart.

	7	Cleanse with hyssop, purify me;
			I’ll be whiter than the snow.
	8	Let the bones you crushed be joyful;
			may I joy and gladness know.
	9	From my failure hide your face;
			blot out all my wickedness.

Psalm 51 v1-9 (Tune: Ottawa) | Choir Singing

Support the psalms: www.patreon.com/psalms
(reproduced with permission) Copyright: Sing Psalms 2003 (Produced by the Free Church of Scotland)

7 The LORD for ever reigns on high;
his throne for judgment stands.
8 He’ll judge the world in righteousness,
with justice rule the lands.

9 The LORD will be a hiding place
for those who are oppressed,
And he will be a strong defence
for those who are distressed.

10 All those who know your name, O LORD,
in you their trust will place,
For you do not abandon those
who seek your gracious face.

11 Sing praises to the LORD who sits
in Zion on his throne;
Among the nations of the world
proclaim what he has done.

Psalm 9 a v7-11 (Tune: Amazing Grace)

Support the psalms - www.patreon.com/join/psalms
Sheet music: https://genevanpsalter.com/files/psalm-66/Psalm_66_Genevan_BoP.pdf

“All peoples, bowing down before Thee,
Sing praises to Thy glorious Name;
To Thee, O God, they all pay homage,
With hymns of joy declare Thy fame.”
O come and see with reverent wonder
The awesome deeds which God has done,
His mighty works among the nations,
The victories His hand has won.
His strength to Israel revealing,
He turned the sea to arid land,
And they on foot passed through the river;
The waters heeded His command.
We sang His praise, in Him rejoicing
Who by His might rules without end;
His eyes keep watch on every nation.
Let rebels not His power withstand.

Sung by Michael Owens - For many years he has been pursuing various methods of singing the Psalms, including the through-composed Psalm 119 and Canticles Divine series with Frederick Steinruck. His first passions have always been God and family, with music and pianos a distant second. His work on the Genevan Psalter began in 2003, when a friend gave him a copy of the Cantus Christi.

Music: Genevan Psalter, 1543; harm. Claude Goudimel, 1564

ThePsalmsSung.org

Psalm 66 (Genevan Psalter | Acapella)

Support the psalms - https://www.patreon.com/join/psalms
Text: Psalm 4 from 'Psalms for Singing – A 21st Century Edition (2004)'
Produced by the Reformed Presbyterian church of Ireland.

8  I will both lay me down in peace,
         and quiet sleep will take;
      Because thou only me to dwell
         in safety, Lord, will make.

Psalm 4 (Tune: Wallace)

Text: Scottish Psalter (1650)  (Meter: CM)

1  How excellent in all the earth,
         Lord, our Lord, is thy name!
      Who hast thy glory far advanced
         above the starry frame.

 3  When I look up unto the heav'ns,
         which thine own fingers framed,
      Unto the moon, and to the stars,
         which were by thee ordained;

   4  Then say I, What is man, that he
         remembered is by thee?
      Or what the son of man, that thou
         so kind to him should'st be?

   5  For thou a little lower hast
         him than the angels made;
      With glory and with dignity
         thou crowned hast his head.

   6  Of thy hands' works thou mad'st him lord,
         all under's feet didst lay;
   7  All sheep and oxen, yea, and beasts
         that in the field do stray;

   8  Fowls of the air, fish of the sea,
         all that pass through the same.
   9  How excellent in all the earth,
         Lord, our Lord, is thy name!

Psalm 8 (Tune: Richmond)

Support the psalms - www.patreon.com/join/psalms

 1  That man hath perfect blessedness,
         who walketh not astray
      In counsel of ungodly men,
         nor stands in sinners' way,

   2  Nor sitteth in the scorner's chair:
         But placeth his delight
      Upon God's law, and meditates
         on his law day and night.

   3  He shall be like a tree that grows
         near planted by a river,
      Which in his season yields his fruit,
         and his leaf fadeth never:

   4  And all he doth shall prosper well
         The wicked are not so;
      But like they are unto the chaff,
         which wind drives to and fro.

   5  In judgment therefore shall not stand
         such as ungodly are; 
      Nor in th' assembly of the just
         shall wicked men appear.

   6  For why? the way of godly men
         unto the Lord is known:
      Whereas the way of wicked men
         shall quite be overthrown.

Psalm 1 sung acapella from The Scottish Metrical Psalter of 1650. (Meter: CM) Recorded at Dowanvale free church.

Psalm 1 (Tune: Azmon / Denfield)

Support the psalms - www.patreon.com/join/psalms
(recorded by Paul Hillier, Theatre of Voices, The King's Noyse & David Douglass) 
Download full album from: https://itunes.apple.com/album/third-tune-for-acrchbishop/id586089926?i=586090342&ign-mpt=uo%3D5

Text  from 'Archbishop Parker's Psalter'. 
Tune: '3rd Mode Melody'  by Thomas Tallis  [CM.D]

3. Let us they say: break down their ray,
of all their bonds and cords:
We will renounce: that they pronounce,
their loores as stately lordes.

4. But God of might: in heauen so bright,
Shall laugh them all to scorne:
The Lord on hie: shall them defie,
they shall be once forlorne.

9. With iron rod: as mighty God,
all rebels shalt thou bruse:
And breake them all: in pieces small,
as sherdes the potters vase.

10. Be wise therfore: ye kinges the more,
Receyue ye wisdomes lore:
Ye iudges strong: of right and wrong,
aduise you now before.

11. The Lorde in feare: your seruice beare,
with dread to him reioyce:
Let rages be: resist not ye,
him serue with ioyfull voyce.

12. The sonne kisse ye: lest wroth he be,
lose not the way of rest:
For when his ire: is set on fire,
who trust in hym be blest

Psalm 2 (Tune: Third Mode Melody)

Support the psalms - www.patreon.com/join/psalms
Text: Scottish Psalter (1650)  Recorded at a Free Church of Scotland Psalmody Recital(Meter: CM)

1  Wherefore is it that thou, O Lord,
         dost stand from us afar?
      And wherefore hidest thou thyself,
         when times so troublous are?

   2  The wicked in his loftiness
         doth persecute the poor:
      In these devices they have framed
         let them be taken sure.

17  O Lord, of those that humble are
         thou the desire didst hear;
      Thou wilt prepare their heart, and thou
         to hear wilt bend thine ear;

  18  To judge the fatherless, and those
         that are oppressed sore;
      That man, that is but sprung of earth,
         may them oppress no more.

Psalm 10 (Tune: Glenluce)

700 Free Recordings of Congregational & Choral Psalm Singing.
Different Versions, Different Tunes, Different Styles. All the recordings are free!!

I LOVE doing it and I love hearing how others appreciate it, but it does cost money. So if you can help me cover the overheads (https://www.patreon.com/psalms), I will keep uploading the beautiful recordings! 

Buy Scottish Psalter (1650) with sheet music: https://amzn.to/4cJHFPY